LanguageTool Review: Features, Pricing & Alternatives

What is LanguageTool?

LanguageTool is a grammar, spelling, punctuation and style checker that works in more than 30 languages and dialects, including English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch and Portuguese. It detects the language automatically, checks text as you type in your browser, email and office apps, and adds AI paraphrasing to make sentences more formal, fluent, simple or concise.

The project began as Daniel Naber’s open-source thesis work and was first released in 2005. LanguageTooler GmbH, based in Germany, commercialised it with Premium plans, and in 2023 the company was acquired by Learneo, the group behind QuillBot, Course Hero and Scribbr. The core checker remains open source under the LGPL, so it can still be run offline or on your own server.

Its biggest advantages are language coverage and privacy. Few checkers handle so many European languages well, and LanguageTool says its servers are hosted in Germany, that its API is GDPR-compliant and that texts sent to the API are not stored. That makes it a common choice for multilingual teams, European businesses and privacy-conscious writers.

Key features of LanguageTool

• 30+ languagesGrammar and spelling checks in over 30 languages and dialects, with automatic language detection and regional English variants.
• Style suggestionsFlags redundant words, overused phrases and weak word choices, with a stricter Picky Mode.
• AI paraphrasingRephrase sentences to be more formal, fluent, simple or concise; unlimited on Premium.
• Personal and team style guidesSet rules, preferred terms and a shared dictionary so writing stays consistent.
• Wide integrationsBrowser add-ons, Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, email clients, desktop apps and an iOS keyboard.
• API and self-hostingPaid HTTP API with servers in Germany, plus an open-source version you can host yourself.

Who is LanguageTool best for?

• Multilingual writers who switch between English and other European languages.
• European businesses that care about GDPR and where their text is processed.
• Non-native English speakers who want clear corrections across apps.
• Developers and IT teams who want an API or a self-hosted grammar checker.

Popular ways to use LanguageTool

• Multilingual emails: check messages in English, German or French without switching tools.
• Academic writing: catch grammar and style issues in papers and theses.
• Team consistency: share a style guide and dictionary across a company.
• Product integration: add grammar checking to an app through the API.
• Offline checking: run the open-source version locally for sensitive documents.

LanguageTool pricing (October 2026)

LanguageTool shows prices in local currency including VAT, offers monthly, quarterly, yearly and two-year terms, and often runs limited-time discounts, so check the official page for your region. Premium has a 14-day money-back guarantee.

LanguageTool pros and cons

How to get started with LanguageTool

1. Create a free account or start typing in the editor at languagetool.org.
2. Install the browser add-on and, if needed, the Word or Google Docs add-on.
3. Set your language variants, such as British or American English.
4. Turn on Picky Mode for a stricter style review.
5. Upgrade to Premium for longer texts and unlimited paraphrasing.

Tips to get better results from LanguageTool

• Set your preferred language variant so spelling suggestions match your audience.
• Add company and product names to the dictionary to reduce false alerts.
• Choose a yearly or two-year term; monthly billing costs much more.
• Developers can test the open-source server before buying API access.

LanguageTool vs alternatives

Grammarly offers more generative AI and tone tools but focuses mainly on English. QuillBot, a sister brand under Learneo, is stronger for paraphrasing, while ProWritingAid goes deeper on style for long-form English writing.

For translation rather than proofreading, DeepL is the natural partner and also offers a writing tool. Hemingway Editor is simpler and focused on readability. LanguageTool is the pick when you write in several languages. See all best AI writing tools.

Our verdict: is LanguageTool worth it?

LanguageTool FAQs

Pricing and features change often. Details on this page were last reviewed in October 2026. Always confirm current plans on the official LanguageTool website.